There’s something wonderful about stumbling upon a place that feels like it wasn’t expecting you. One hot summer day, I was on a day trip to Volendam with a friend who was visiting the Netherlands for the first time and wanted to see traditional Dutch villages. Volendam was the first Dutch village I visited when I myself was a tourist, and I still remember how different and amazing it seemed back then. Since my visit, the place has become more crowded and touristy. I still recommend it to people who are new to the Netherlands for its beauty but also because it’s easy to get to from Amsterdam.
That day we found Volendam overcome by tourists, every place was crammed, too many souvenir shops and too little Dutch life. The cod sandwich from the fish stall was still as good as always, and some hidden streets still beautiful and quiet. However, we wanted something that felt more real, and, usually my choice would have been Marken, just a ferry ride away from Volendam. But logistics required us to choose Edam, which was more suitable for our plans. We took the bus to Edam, hoping things would be quieter there.
As soon as we walked a few metres from the bus stop in Edam, we were immediately immersed in the peaceful atmosphere of a small Dutch village. We walked around without plans, just trying to discover the place. The streets were narrow and bordered with flowers, the canals and bridges picturesque, like straight out of a postcard, and in the city centre families were eating ice cream while older people were gossiping on a bench by the canal. Edam is that kind of town, the sort where shopkeepers still know their neighbours by name, and where tourists are welcomed but haven’t yet transformed the place into a living museum. I couldn’t believe I’d never been there before!
If you’re looking for somewhere that feels like the Netherlands of old postcards, with canal reflections, church bells, bicycles leaning against every available wall, but want to experience it alongside actual Dutch people going about their actual Dutch lives, then Edam might just become your favourite day out from Amsterdam.
A Brief History of Edam
The history of Edam began in the 12th century with a dam on the River E (or Ye), built by farmers who were tired of the North Sea ruining their crops. Edam received city rights around the 1300s, and it developed a lot thanks to the shipping and fishing industries, competing in importance with cities like Hoorn, Enkhuizen, and Amsterdam. Ships departed from the harbours in Edam for the major cities in Holland and international trading routes. The cheese market became a major factor in Edam’s economy in the sixteenth century (although the market that is held now is a tourist version of the original one).
What to do in Edam
If you’re looking for the picture-perfect village in the Netherlands, Edam is one of the main contenders. It’s a beautiful, quiet place, where clouds reflect onto the narrow canals, old houses remind you of the past, and drawbridges are lifted to let the boats pass. You walk around and you marvel that people live in this picturesque place, and feel even a bit shy about taking photos. It comes alive more on the cheese market days, but if you want the quiet, you should pick other days for that.
There are enough cheese shops to make sure you don’t leave this place without a sample of Edam’s treasured cheese, even if you don’t go there on a market day.
The best thing to do in Edam is walk around aimlessly, discovering the beauty of the village. But if you’d like to mark some landmarks, there are a couple that you can add to your agenda.
The Famous Cheese Market
Every Wednesday in July and August, Edam turns back the clock to its trading days. From 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, the Kaasmarkt square fills with cheese carriers in traditional white uniforms, re-creating a traditional cheese market. There are some days when the market is held in the evening, so make sure to check the Edam Cheese Market website for the latest info.
Edam Museum
One of the oldest museums in North Holland, the Edam Museum is the place where you can learn about the history of this town. The museum is housed in two locations, one being Edam’s oldest brick house (1530) and the other on the first floor of Edam’s old town hall, dating from 1737. The collection is diverse and consists of classical and modern paintings, ceramics, archaeological finds, furniture, and all kinds of other curiosities.
One of the famous features of the Edam Museum is the floating cellar, which rises and falls with groundwater levels. It’s a loose wooden container resting on groundwater, rising and sinking with the tide. Back when the Zuiderzee still influenced the water levels here on Dam Square, this clever setup kept the basement from ever flooding. Floating cellars weren’t unusual in Edam or Amsterdam, but this is the only one in the Netherlands you can actually visit today.
And there’s a charming legend attached to it: locals say a former owner, a sea captain, had it built because he missed the ocean too much. In this gently rocking cellar, he could still feel the movement of the water and hear a hint of the sea.
At the Edam Museum you will also learn about Edam legends, like the Mermaid of Edam (captured in Purmermeer and taken to Edam, where she was dressed in women’s clothing), the Big Girl (Groote Meid in Dutch, a girl who was 2.54 metres tall) and Longbeard (a ship carpenter who grew his beard so long that he had to stand over a canal to be able to comb it).
De Kaaswaag (Cheese Warehouse)
When the summer market isn’t running, this is the place to go for your cheese fix. This is a mini-museum where you can learn the difference between jong and oud cheeses, understand why Edam cheese for export gets that famous red wax (hint: it’s for protection), and yes, sample cheeses!
Grote Kerk (Great Church)
Built in the 15th century, the church is famous for its extraordinary stained-glass windows that tell biblical stories in kaleidoscopic detail and offers tower climbs in summer (€3). The church’s wooden vault, supposedly the largest in Europe, looks like an upturned ship’s hull, a reminder of Edam’s shipbuilding past.
See Edam from the water
There are a couple of tour companies that offer boat rides on the picturesque canals of the town. They glide silently while you can admire the place from a different perspective.
Fort Edam
The Fort near Edam is part of the Stelling van Amsterdam and once played a key role in protecting the region by controlling the flooding of the Zeevang polder. After a long and varied history, from wartime use to a post-war prison and later an army storage site, it eventually fell quiet, allowing nature to take over. Today, thanks to Staatsbosbeheer and a local foundation, you can visit the fort and explore both its military past and the rare flora and fauna that now thrive there.
You can check out this tourist map to see where every point of interest is located and create your route.
The triangle day trip: Edam, Volendam & Marken
If you want to discover more Dutch villages in one day, consider making a day-trip in which you cover these three beauties. All these villages can be reached only by bus or by car. There is no train service here, but that’s not a problem. There are many buses from Amsterdam during the day. Start the day in Edam. Spend your morning exploring its quiet streets and perhaps catching the cheese market if you’re visiting on a Wednesday in summer. By the time the crowds arrive, you’re already on the bus to Volendam.
Volendam, just 5 minutes away from Edam by bus, has harbours packed with traditional boats, locals in costume (yes, for tourists, but cheerfully so), and enough fish stands to feed an army. It’s touristy, sure, but the streets and the typical green houses are still beautiful, the harbour still so charming. From Volendam, take the ferry to Marken (March to October) or bus 316. This former island, with its wooden houses on stilts and narrow paths where cats roam like they own the place, feels like stepping into a children’s storybook. If you arrive there late afternoon, you should stay until the sunset, which can be spectacular.
Each of these villages has its own charm. At the end of the day, you will dream of wooden houses and narrow alleys, boats and mermaids and sea stories of the past.
How to Get to Edam – from Amsterdam
The journey to visit Edam couldn’t be simpler. Bus 316 departs from Amsterdam Central Station every 30 minutes, bringing you to Edam in about 30 minutes. The 312 offers an alternative route via Volendam. Buy a day ticket (dagkaart) for €15 if you’re planning the full triangle tour.
FAQ
What’s the best time to visit Edam?
May through September offers the warmest weather and the chance to catch the cheese market. However, Edam in autumn, with fewer tourists and golden light on the canals, has its own quiet charm. Winter visits mean having the town almost to yourself.
How long should I spend in Edam?
Three to four hours allows you to see the main sights, visit a museum, and enjoy a coffee by the canal. If you’re combining it with Volendam and Marken, allocate 2-3 hours for Edam as part of your full day trip.
Is Edam worth visiting outside the cheese market season?
Absolutely. The town’s authentic atmosphere, museums, and photogenic streets make it worthwhile year-round. And I would argue it’s better without the market crowds.
Can you buy authentic Edam cheese year-round?
Yes! Several shops sell genuine Edam cheese daily. You’ll find more variety than at the market, plus the chance to chat with knowledgeable staff about your selection and taste some of them.
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